MEDIA ADVISORY/NEWS RELEASE

Shooting Suspect Caught

The Sacramento Police Department has arrested 23-year-old John Montanez for an attempted homicide related to a shooting in the parking lot of the Arden Fair Mall.

On Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at 3:21p.m., Sacramento Police Officers responded to reports of shots fired. Officers initially discovered that a male subject, armed with a handgun and in the company of a second suspect, began firing at two other male subjects. It was later discovered there were in fact three victims among the group fired upon by Montanez. No injuries were reported as a result of this incident. A specific motive to the shooting is unknown at this time; however, a disagreement between the two groups occurred just prior to the shooting. After the incident the victims and suspects fled the immediate area delaying the initial investigation.

An officer contracted to patrol the mall was in the area and immediately began coordinating with security to determine the whereabouts of the suspects and any possible victims.

The three victims who fled from the gunfire were eventually contacted by responding officers, and confirmed to be uninjured. The two suspects fled through a department store as they made their way to a parked vehicle, fleeing the scene in the car. An investigation was immediately initiated and officers located the suspect vehicle shortly after the incident.

Based on rapidly evolving leads, Montanez was identified the day of the incident as the shooting suspect, which eventually led to his arrest on Wednesday, August 7, 2013.

This investigation is ongoing and detectives continue to follow up.

The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this crime to contact the dispatch center at (916) 264-5471 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357) or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.